Oakland catcher Derek Norris (right) gets congratula- tions from Craig Gentry (left) and Kyle Blanks after his eighth-inning grand slam gave the A's a 10-0 lead over the Detroit Tigers on Memorial Day at sold-out O.co Coliseum.

Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press

Oakland catcher Derek Norris (right) gets congratula- tions from...

Image 2 of 5

A's outfielder Craig Gentry is safe ahead of the throw to Tigers second baseman Danny Worth in the eighth inning.

Photo: Jason O. Watson, Getty Images

A's outfielder Craig Gentry is safe ahead of the throw to Tigers...

Image 3 of 5

Oakland Athletics' Derek Norris follows through on his swing after hitting a grand slam off Detroit Tigers' Phil Coke in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 26, 2014, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press

Oakland Athletics' Derek Norris follows through on his swing after...

Image 4 of 5

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 26: Kyle Blanks #88 of the Oakland Athletics scores a run in front of Bryan Holaday #50 of the Detroit Tigers during the fourth inning at O.co Coliseum on May 26, 2014 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

Photo: Jason O. Watson, Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 26: Kyle Blanks #88 of the Oakland Athletics...

Image 5 of 5

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 26: Kyle Blanks #88 of the Oakland Athletics is congratulated by third base coach Mike Gallego #2 after hitting a home run off of Drew Smyly #33 of the Detroit Tigers (not pictured) during the second inning at O.co Coliseum on May 26, 2014 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

Home runs: They're great when you hit them, but it can backfire when you try to hit them.

The value and art of the long ball were two of the main themes in the A's clubhouse Monday afternoon following Oakland's 10-0 dismantling of Detroit in front of a sellout crowd of 35,067 at O.co Coliseum.

The A's went deep five times. In the second and third innings, solo shots by Brandon Moss, Kyle Blanks, Josh Donaldson and Yoenis Céspedes off Drew Smyly (2-3) accounted for the first four runs.

Manager Bob Melvin had impressed upon his hitters to "pass the baton." In other words, work deep counts and be satisfied with walks and hits other than homers. A hitter doesn't have to "necessarily be The Guy."

Then, five of his hitters wound up being The Guy.

"We need to hit home runs," said Donaldson, who is tied with Moss for the team lead in homers with 12. "I think we're going to hit home runs because of the kind of guys that we have. ...

"With that said, I think we've done a great job all year of passing the baton."

Said Norris: "There are very few guys on this ballclub (who) are actually looking to hit home runs. You look at some of the guys like Moss and Donaldson who have literally shaped their swing to try to become flyball hitters. ... (Hitting home runs) is definitely an art that not everyone can grasp."

Donaldson said people wanting to know why the A's thrived so completely Monday after struggling against Tampa Bay and Toronto should grasp the fact that the Rays' and Jays' pitchers did excellent work against Oakland.

"You're going to run into those days where you're not swinging the bat well," Donaldson said. "Detroit Tigers, one of the best lineups in baseball, we were able to hold them to no runs today."

The Tigers lead the AL with a .275 average, but Tommy Milone held them to four hits in 6 2/3 innings. In the lefty's first five starts this season, he went 0-3 with a 5.86 ERA. In his past four starts, Milone is 3-0 with a 1.03 ERA (three earned runs in 26 1/3 innings).

Milone has tinkered with his delivery, shortening his stride and giving him better command of his fastball. Another reason for his improvement? "The last four starts, I've trusted whatever (sign) Dino throws down and it's been working."

Dino is his catcher, Norris, who said of Milone, "His focus level's been higher. His determination's been higher and he's been attacking hitters and not shying away from contact and he's been doing a great job."

The A's have done a good job this season in limiting home runs. They've allowed 39, the fewest in the American League. The team that has allowed the second fewest is none other than Detroit. The Tigers have yielded 40 after Monday's five-HR barrage.